Best place to get gravel?

This is a discussion on Best place to get gravel? within the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium forums, part of the Freshwater Fish and Aquariums category; -->
Originally Posted by redchigh
Larger gravels are notorious at collecting detritus which can harm water quality. Have you considered play sand (super cheap) or ...

Larger gravels are notorious at collecting detritus which can harm water quality. Have you considered play sand (super cheap) or another cheap substrate with an inch or so of Tahitian moon sand on top?

Im so back and forth with this stuff. I think I may try a different substrat. I feel like all the black will be too much. But the think is that I really want a Black Ghost Knife. Will they do fine if I go with a lighter substrate. I just checkout a post in the pictures section with thread name "55 gal resurrection," I'm diggin that style. Black background, with the stone gravel substrate and plants.

We've all been suggesting suitable substrate materials without knowing what fish are going in the tank, or if plants are intended. Now that you're giving some of this info, we can narrow things down for you.

If you are intending a black ghost knifefish, you want a dark substrate. You will have minimal light, and thick floating plants. BGK cannot be in a brightly-lit tank. This means substrate plants may not have sufficient light, but some low light plants might work, or you can be authentic and have lots of wood and branches, dry leaves, etc. A sand substrate is best as this fish will dig in the substrate for food, similar to corys and loaches. Sand suits all these fish. And playsand works very well, I have it in 4 tanks. It is dark gray dry, and while it does tend to lighten in the aquarium with sufficient plants, wood, etc. this soon fades.

This is explained in the profile, click the shaded name. [I sometimes wonder why I work to put so much info in the profiles, no one seems to read them.]

We've all been suggesting suitable substrate materials without knowing what fish are going in the tank, or if plants are intended. Now that you're giving some of this info, we can narrow things down for you.

If you are intending a black ghost knifefish, you want a dark substrate. You will have minimal light, and thick floating plants. BGK cannot be in a brightly-lit tank. This means substrate plants may not have sufficient light, but some low light plants might work, or you can be authentic and have lots of wood and branches, dry leaves, etc. A sand substrate is best as this fish will dig in the substrate for food, similar to corys and loaches. Sand suits all these fish. And playsand works very well, I have it in 4 tanks. It is dark gray dry, and while it does tend to lighten in the aquarium with sufficient plants, wood, etc. this soon fades.

This is explained in the profile, click the shaded name. [I sometimes wonder why I work to put so much info in the profiles, no one seems to read them.]

Byron.

I do. It's my reference guide before I make any aquarium related purchase. Tons of great information that's available on the internet, but not in the easy to read guide you have.

I wish I had done black substrate in my tank, I definitely will in my next tank. I'm thinking about doing a 20 gallon critter tank with emphasis on shrimp and snails along with some fish (haven't decided).

Is small rock or sand better suited to critters?

Sorry for it being off topic, I mainly responded to give Byron credit for the profiles, they've helped me immensely in the past few weeks.

We've all been suggesting suitable substrate materials without knowing what fish are going in the tank, or if plants are intended. Now that you're giving some of this info, we can narrow things down for you.

If you are intending a black ghost knifefish, you want a dark substrate. You will have minimal light, and thick floating plants. BGK cannot be in a brightly-lit tank. This means substrate plants may not have sufficient light, but some low light plants might work, or you can be authentic and have lots of wood and branches, dry leaves, etc. A sand substrate is best as this fish will dig in the substrate for food, similar to corys and loaches. Sand suits all these fish. And playsand works very well, I have it in 4 tanks. It is dark gray dry, and while it does tend to lighten in the aquarium with sufficient plants, wood, etc. this soon fades.

This is explained in the profile, click the shaded name. [I sometimes wonder why I work to put so much info in the profiles, no one seems to read them.]

Byron.

Byron,

I do check out the profiles. May have came off wrong, but I am diggin the black and black ghost, but I cannot seem to find black substrate for a good price. Then I saw the natural look of the post i saw in the pictures section and now I dont know what way to go.Posted via Mobile Device

I do. It's my reference guide before I make any aquarium related purchase. Tons of great information that's available on the internet, but not in the easy to read guide you have.

I wish I had done black substrate in my tank, I definitely will in my next tank. I'm thinking about doing a 20 gallon critter tank with emphasis on shrimp and snails along with some fish (haven't decided).

Is small rock or sand better suited to critters?

Sorry for it being off topic, I mainly responded to give Byron credit for the profiles, they've helped me immensely in the past few weeks.

I would use playsand with shrimp. See next post too, photo will be attached.

I do check out the profiles. May have came off wrong, but I am diggin the black and black ghost, but I cannot seem to find black substrate for a good price. Then I saw the natural look of the post i saw in the pictures section and now I dont know what way to go.Posted via Mobile Device

Here is a photo of one of my tanks with the playsand I mentioned. This is very natural, this sand replicates that found in many streams in Amazonia. It is darker "live" than what appears in the photo.

Home Depot and Lowe's carry this, as far as I know; it is called Quikrete Play Sand, comes in 55lb/25kg bags for around $7 (in Canada, may be less in the USA). Two bags will do your 125g, I used 2 bags in my 115g (photo below).

Home Depot and Lowe's carry this, as far as I know; it is called Quikrete Play Sand, comes in 55lb/25kg bags for around $7 (in Canada, may be less in the USA). Two bags will do your 125g, I used 2 bags in my 115g (photo below).

I'm really digging the natural color on this tank. Exactly what I would like now.